Your Small Credit Card Balance Costs More Than You Think

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How much of a balance do you have on your credit card right now? A few hundred dollars? A thousand? Living in a time of massive student debt, a small credit card balance may not seem like a big deal.

Until it does.

No matter how much you’re carrying on a credit card, that balance can start picking up steam fast. Carrying that balance does not help you build a credit score, as some people believe. When it comes to the perfect balance to carry from month to month, no amount is better than zero.

Read on to find out why you shouldn’t discount the high cost of even the smallest debt.

According to a report from the CFPB, “In any given month, about 15% of accounts make exactly the minimum payment. Another 19% pay near (and above) the minimum amount, and a third of accounts pay in full. The remainder either pays under the minimum or some intermediate amount between full and near-minimum.”

In other words, 34% of people are either making their minimum payment only or paying just a little bit more than the minimum. Here’s why that’s a problem.

Calculate credit card interest to understand the danger

Thanks to the way issuers calculate credit card interest, sticking to the minimum payment is a recipe for debt. Even the smallest balance can turn into an insurmountable load within a few months or years.

With a 12% interest rate and a 2% monthly minimum payment, it would take you 70 months to repay a balance of $1,600 making only the minimum payments. On top of that, you’ll pay $630 in interest — bringing the total amount paid on your $1,600 balance all the way up to $2,230.

A credit card balance of $1,600 doesn’t sound like much at first, but more than five years of payments and $600 in interest later, suddenly it’s not so easy to manage.

Keep in mind that we’re working with averages and estimates here. If the time and money spent paying off these balances don’t alarm you, listen up. Many credit cards have interest rates of 20 percent or more. That means the example above is on the very low end of what you might encounter in real life.

How to fight against credit card interest

So what’s the best way to win the fight against credit card interest? Get ahead of it before it grows uncontrollably. Pay off your credit card balances as quickly as you can; keep using your credit card if you want, but pay it in full every month.

I know paying off a credit card balance is easier said than done, but there are steps you can start taking now to do it. Here are three things you can do to get ahead of credit card interest.

1. Get a balance transfer credit card

The first thing to try is a balance transfer credit card. Balance transfer credit cards usually come with a 0% interest rate for the first six months to one year, and they’re used to pay off your existing credit card (or cards).

Giving yourself a chance to make payments with no interest can help you seriously get ahead on your balance. Just make sure you never make a purchase on the new card (as that will come at a higher interest rate) and make a plan to pay it off before the 0% interest offer expires.

2. Ask your credit card issuer to lower your interest

A simple phone call could help you get ahead of credit card debt. Call your credit card issuer and ask them to lower your interest rate. If you have a positive history with them (read: on-time payments), then there’s a good chance they’ll help you out.

I tried this once before when I couldn’t get a balance transfer credit card and managed to get my interest lowered from 24% to 11%. I kept paying more than the minimum and eventually qualified for a balance transfer credit card at 0% for 24 months. With that, I was able to eliminate a $2,000 credit card balance that I’d been fighting for five years.

3. Use the debt avalanche method

Finally, if you’re battling several credit cards and can’t consolidate them with a balance transfer, then it’s time to employ the debt avalanche method. With this, you’ll target your highest interest rate credit card first.

Here’s how it works: Line your credit cards up from the highest to lowest interest rate and number them accordingly. If you’re able to pay more than the minimum payment, apply the extra money to the highest-interest card first while paying the minimum on the rest.

Once the first card is paid off, apply the whole amount you were paying on it to the second one (on top of the minimum). Keep doing that until you’re debt-free.

Don’t be defeated by average credit card debt

It’s easy to feel defeated once you see how long it can take to pay off even the smallest of credit card balances. But don’t let this knowledge defeat you — let it motivate you.

None of us should discount the high cost of small debt. But if you’re already in that boat, you can make headway and pay off that balance once and for all. Try the tips above and stay focused.

With patience and persistence, you can win against the high cost of credit card interest.

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Our team at Student Loan Hero works hard to find and recommend products and services that we believe are of high quality. We sometimes earn a sales commission or advertising fee when recommending various products and services to you. Similar to when you are being sold any product or service, be sure to read the fine print to help you understand what you are buying. Be sure to consult with a licensed professional if you have any concerns. Student Loan Hero is not a lender or investment advisor. We are not involved in the loan approval or investment process, nor do we make credit or investment related decisions. The rates and terms listed on our website are estimates and are subject to change at any time.

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